Richard Ferreira: Put police where they are needed

Recently, there has been a great deal of discussion about 60 new police officers in Providence, crime rates, shootings, and what should be done and how.

Recently, there has been a great deal of discussion about 60 new police officers in Providence, crime rates, shootings, and what should be done and how.

Let me shatter some myths about crime rates and numbers of cops on the street.

The Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment proved that unless properly directed, more cops on the street do not translate automatically into less crime. Random patrols bring random results. Direction is the key to efficiency in personnel.

Crime rates fluctuate with the economy. A rising economy springs rising crime rates. Why? There is more disposal income.

Since uniformed personnel are the biggest expense and the most important, the 60 or so cops should not be just to fill in for overtime, sickness, vacations, and those injured on duty. Although very important to do and necessary, the key to this supplement of personnel is to place them in the right place at the right time more successfully more of the time.